A pastor in CAR said Christians had been hung, stabbed or beaten to death by their Muslim neighbours and Christian shops pillaged and looted. The bodies of many killed in the massacre were left abandoned in the streets.
He said the self-defence groups that have formed in response to months of raping, looting and killing by Seleka have been falsely labelled “Christian militias” by the media. He said the groups comprise members of the national army, Seleka defectors and villagers, adding:
The Christians don’t recognise any legitimacy with any of these groups… The international press has misled opinion and understanding at large with this politically correct false characterisation of the conflict.
As the carnage continued over three days of fighting, thousands of Christian civilians fled their homes, many seeking refuge at Bangui airport, which is being guarded by French forces.
France has deployed 1,600 troops to CAR in an effort to help bring about stability, having warned that the country is “on the verge of genocide”.
The UN Security Council authorised on Thursday the use of force by French and African Union troops to protect civilians. It is also considering an international peacekeeping mission.
Western powers have urged swift action in CAR to prevent a repeat of the Rwandan genocide in 1994, when hundreds of thousands of people were killed as the international community failed to intervene.
The arrival of French troops has been greatly welcomed by the beleaguered citizens of CAR.
Abel Nguerefara, who lives on the outskirts of Bangui, said, “Thanks to France and the United Nations who want to save the Central Africans, soon the Seleka attacks on civilians will stop. We have had enough of Seleka killing, raping and stealing.”
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